Materials Engineer

What you need to know

Overview

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.

What is this career like?

Materials engineers generally work in offices where they have access to computers and design equipment. Others work in factories or research and development laboratories. Materials engineers typically work full time and may work overtime hours when necessary.

Some of the things a materials engineer might do:

Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and managers as necessary

Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists

Design and direct the testing of processing procedures

Monitor how materials perform and evaluate how they deteriorate

Determine causes of product failure and develop ways of overcoming such failure

Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to the design objectives of processes or products

Evaluate the impact of materials processing on the environment

What skills are needed?

Analytical skills: Materials engineers often work on projects related to other fields of engineering. They must determine how materials will be used and how they must be structured to withstand different conditions.

Math skills: Materials engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills: Materials engineers must understand the relationship between materials’ structures, their properties, how they are made, and how these factors affect the products they are used to make. They must also figure out why a product might have failed, design a solution, and then conduct tests to make sure that the product does not fail again. These skills involve being able to identify root causes when many factors could be at fault.

Speaking skills: While working with technicians, technologists, and other engineers, materials engineers must state concepts and directions clearly. When speaking with managers, these engineers must also communicate engineering concepts to people who may not have an engineering background.

Writing skills: Materials engineers must write plans and reports clearly so that people without a materials engineering background can understand the concepts.

What is the pay?

The average pay for materials engineers in the United States ranges from $57,080 to $149,860.

The specific pay depends on factors such as level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry.

What is the career outlook?

Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations.

Demand for materials engineers is expected to come from growing fields, such as biomedical engineering and three-dimensional printing. Research and development firms will increasingly employ materials engineers as they explore new uses for materials technology in consumer products, industrial processes, and medicine.

What education is required?

Materials engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or in a related engineering field. Completing internships and cooperative engineering programs while in school can be helpful in getting a position as a materials engineer.

Students interested in studying materials engineering should take high school courses in math, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; in science, such as biology, chemistry, and physics; and in computer programming.
Many engineering programs are accredited by ABET. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an accredited program. A degree from an ABET-accredited program is usually necessary to become a licensed professional engineer.